अर्जुन उवाच उक्तं युधिष्ठिरेणैव यावद् वाच्यं जनार्दन। तव वाक्यं तु मे श्रुत्वा प्रतिभाति परंतप॥
Arjuna said By Yudhishthira has been uttered all that ought to be spoken, O Janardana; but hearing your words, O chastiser of foes, it seems to me.
नैव प्रशममत्र त्वं मन्यसे सुकरं प्रभो। लोभाद् वा धृतराष्ट्रस्य दैन्याद् वा समुपस्थितात्॥
That you do not consider peace to be easily obtainable in this instance, O Lord, owing either to avarice on the part of Dhritarashtra or the weakness of ourselves.
अफलं मन्यसे वाऽपि पुरुषस्य पराक्रमम्। न चान्तरेण कर्माणि पौरुषेण फलोदयः॥
You consider, too, that human strength (alone) is without avail and that human desires are fruitless save when attended with action.
तदिदं भाषितं वाक्यं तथा च न तथैव तत्। न चैतदेवं द्रष्टव्यमसाध्यमपि किंचन॥
These words spoken by you may or may not be true; but there is nothing which ought to be regarded as incapable of attainment.
किं चैतन्मन्यसे कृच्छ्रमस्माकमवसादकम्। कुर्वन्ति तेषां कर्माणि येषां नास्ति फलोदयः॥
You consider peace to be improbable owing to our weakness; but they are doing deeds, which do not seem to bear fruits.
सम्पाद्यमानं सम्यक् च स्यात् कर्म सफलं प्रभो। स तथा कृष्ण वर्तस्व यथा शर्म भवेत् परैः॥
Done in a proper way, however, our object may be successful, O lord, therefore, O Krishna, act in such a way that there may be enemy.
पाण्डवानां कुरूणां च भवान् नः प्रथमः सुहृत्। सुराणामसुराणां च यथा वीर प्रजापतिः॥
You are the best well-wisher of ourselves, of both the Kurus and the Pandavas; as the hero Prajapati was of the Suras and the Asuras.
कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च प्रतिपत्स्व निरामयम्। अस्मद्धितमनुष्ठानं मन्ये तव न दुष्करम्॥
Do, therefore, that which is conducive to the interests of both the Kurus and the Pandavas. I think that the accomplishment of what is for our good is not difficult for you; and this is a work which is the proper thing for you to do, O Janardana.
एवं च कार्यतामेति कार्यं तव जनार्दन। गमनादेवमेव त्वं करिष्यसि जनार्दन।॥
You will accomplish this, as soon as you go there, O Janardana; and, O hero, if any other treatment of that evil-souled one is derived by you; it will be as you wish, whether it is to be peace with them or not or whatever is desired by you.
चिकीर्षितमथान्यत् ते तस्मिन् वीर दुरात्मनि। भविष्यति च तत् सर्वं यथा तवचिकीर्षितम्॥
O Krishna, whatever you desire after mature deliberation will be accepted by us with due respect. Is not death proper for that evil-minded one, as well as for his friends and sons?
शर्म तैः सह वा नोऽस्तु तव वा यच्चिकीर्षितम्। विचार्यमाणो यः कामस्तव कृष्ण स नो गुरुः। न स नार्हति दुष्टात्मा वधं ससुतबान्धवः॥
By whom was seen the beauty of prosperity established on the son of Dharma; and who on seeing that had no righteous means (of wining the kingdom) O slayer of Madhu.
येन धर्मसुते दृष्टा न सा श्रीरुपमर्षिता। यच्चाप्यपश्यतोपायं धर्मिष्ठं मधुसूदन॥
They robbed us (of our kingdom) by the cruel and sinful means of a deceitful game at dice. Where is the wielder of the bow, who though born in a Kshatriya family.
उपायेन नृशंसेन हृता दुर्दूतदेविना। कथं हि पुरुषो जातः क्षत्रियेषु धनुर्धरः॥
When challenged (for battle) turns back even when death stares on him? Seeing ourselves defeated by deceit and while wandering in the woods.
समाहूतो निवर्तेत प्राणत्यागेऽप्युपस्थिते। अधर्मेण जितान् दृष्ट्वा वने प्रव्रजितांस्तथा॥ वध्यतां मम वार्ष्णेय निर्गतोऽसौ सुयोधनः। न चैतदद्भुतं कृष्ण मित्रार्थं यच्चिकीर्षसि। क्रिया कथं च मुख्या स्यान्मृदुना चेतरेण वा॥
Did I think that Suyodhana ought to be slain by me when I came out of the forest, O you of the Vrishini race; but what you desire to do on behalf of your friends is not strange, O Krishna, though how that is capable of accomplishment by mildness or by other means (I do not see).
अथवा मन्यसे ज्यायान् वधस्तेषामनन्तरम्। तदेव क्रियतामाशु न विचार्यमतस्त्वया॥
If you consider their immediate destruction better, do that instantly for there is nothing to be considered about in this matter.
जानासि हि यथैतेन द्रौपदी पापबुद्धिना। परिक्लिष्टा सभामध्ये तच्च तस्योपमर्षितम्॥
You know, how by that evil-minded one Draupadi was troubled and annoyed in the midst of the Council and that act of his was borne with difficulty.
स नाम सम्यग् वर्तेत पाण्डवेष्विति माधव। न मे संजायते बुद्धिर्बीजमुप्तमिवोषरे॥
That he should treat the Pandavas justly, O Madhava, dose not seem possible to me. Good counsel to him will give the same result as seed thrown on barren lands.
तस्माद् यन्मन्यसे युक्तं पाण्डवानां हितं च यत्। तथाऽऽशु कुरु वार्ष्णेय यन्नः कार्यमनन्तरम्॥
There for what you consider proper and beneficial for Kurus, What ought to be done next by us, do immediately.